The vast underground halls. Stone or flesh? Human or machine? The gloom of biomorphic dreams distorts gravity, time, and the senses. This short atmospheric story, in the format of a graphic novel, introduces the viewer, and possibly a future reader, to a location from my book. The scene was completely created and rendered in Blender. Under each frame, you will find an excerpt from my blank verse in Russian and its corresponding free translation in English.
Watch out! There are spoilers and annihilation ahead...
The graphic novel begins
Как долго я блуждал во снах, запутанных среди ветвей и мрака? Я чувствовал сквозь марево тумана твой взгляд, и каждый шаг давался мне трудней. Он гнал по тёмным венам кровь всё дальше, дальше.
How long did I wander in dreams, entangled among the branches and darkness? I felt, through the haze of mist, the gaze of your eyes, and every step became harder for me. It drove the blood through the dark veins further, further.
Глубоко. Я уже здесь. Я слышу, как ты дышишь, как тёплый пар выходит изо рта и тает на моих плечах.
Deeply. I am already here. I hear how you breathe, how warm vapor escapes from your mouth and melts upon my shoulders.
Я кожей ощущаю жар. Я слепну от озноба. Закрой глаза, им будет больно.
I feel the heat upon my skin, I'm blinded by the chill within. Close your eyes, it shall be painful still.
I feel the heat upon my skin, I'm blinded by the chill within. Close your eyes, it shall be painful still.
Я снова вижу. Всё повторяется во снах, все грёзы дышут в такт. Пророк уже пришёл и называет моё имя.
I see again. Dreams echo their breath in rhythm. The prophet has come and whispers my name.
Сплетён и скручен жгут моих ветвей. Я рвусь наверх, но тяжесть иной воли тянет вниз. Вниз, вниз, где мысли управляют телом, где разум жжёт мой оголённый нерв.
Entwined and twisted, my branches' braid. I strive above, yet a weight of another will pulls downward. Downward, where thoughts govern the body, where reason scorches my exposed nerve.
Entwined and twisted, my branches' braid. I strive above, yet a weight of another will pulls downward. Downward, where thoughts govern the body, where reason scorches my exposed nerve.
Я не решаюсь, с каждым разом всё трудней. Но нет других путей. Они текут по стенам, извиваясь и крутясь. Исход всегда один. Моё нутро сплавляет время.
I dare not, with each passing time it grows harder, but no other paths exist, they flow along the walls, winding and twisting. There's just one outcome, my gut melds time and space.
I dare not, with each passing time it grows harder, but no other paths exist, they flow along the walls, winding and twisting. There's just one outcome, my gut melds time and space.
Я растворяю твою плоть. Стираю в атомную пыль все мысли, чувства, страхи. Я воссоздам их, человек. Я слепну от озноба. Закрой глаза, им будет больно.
I dissipate thy flesh, erasing into atomic dust, all thoughts, emotions, fears, engulfed in my gust. I shall resurrect them, Human. I'm blinded by the chill within. Close your eyes, it shall be painful still.
I dissipate thy flesh, erasing into atomic dust, all thoughts, emotions, fears, engulfed in my gust. I shall resurrect them, Human. I'm blinded by the chill within. Close your eyes, it shall be painful still.
Colorscripts
Much attention was paid to lighting and effects. I spent a long and painstaking time adjusting the light and fog to achieve the necessary sense of mystery and numinousness, as well as setting the right accents in scenes filled with complex objects.
I hope you enjoyed my mysterious graphic novel about a thinking bio-time machine?
